Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

05/10/2012 12:00
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Updated
04 December 2012

Thomas Patrick
Founder of www.thatfilmguy.net and self-confessed film aficionado

Writing can sometimes be a thankless task. Some people will love what you write others will hate it and the majority won't care. But those who like to write do so for a variety of reasons; to become famous, to be liked or simply to express themselves in a way that they find difficult in 'real life.'

Whatever the reasons for writing the endless possibilities that lay before you when you look at a blank piece of paper, an empty word document or an unwritten review of a film. When I write reviews of films, I do so as a way of warning people of the potential minefields at the local cinema and to highlight the art that can be painted on the silver screen.

I also do it because I enjoy it, because every once in a while a film comes out of nowhere, where I haven't peeked at the social zeitgeist, the general consensus and I don't know what to expect. This is where I found myself at a screening of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

I could do some research into the history of the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, a book that I have never read, but it was my lack of knowledge about the subject matter that allowed me to learn as I watched. To see the narrative unfold, to show me love, friendship, coming of age and heartbreak. All you need to know is what I know: Charlie (Lerman) is boy going into high school who has no friends and most people don't know who he is. His life changes however when he meets Patrick (Miller) and Sam (Watson), seniors who he becomes friends with and learns to start living life instead of watching it.

It is rare for a film to really affect me emotionally, especially one that is so obvious manipulative and features teenagers who are too smart for their own good. They listen to The Smiths while decrying the popular kids, they love The Rocky Horror Picture Show and write poetry. In film terms, these are the kind of navel-gazing people who I hate, and find frustrating beyond belief. Yet here, the ease at which they interact, the dialogue at their disposal and even the music they listen to all works in harmony.

These are young people, unsure of what they're doing or where they're going, just trying to muddle through life creating something far greater than the sum of their parts. I was astounded how much affection I had for them all, and I assumed I knew where it was all going until the final act, which threw my off guard and left me speechless. These are the moments where the central trio give what can only be described as the best performances of the year. I won't say anymore, but I implore you not to read anything about it and just go and watch.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower spoke to me on a deeper level than any film has for years. It has it's flaws, but all films do and the perfection of everything from the cast to the script, to the soundtrack and the cinematography help to mask any minor quibbles. It's not cool, it's unlikely to win any awards or make billions at the box office, but in my opinion, this is my favourite film not only of the year, but possibly of my life. I appreciate that many will not like it, while others will criticise the characters and their ideas, but I don't care. It made me want to write this review immediately, it made me want to write poetry and film scripts and a novel. To paraphrase the film, I swear, it made me feel infinite.